Concentrations
Concentrations leading to a Bachelor of Science degree
Earth System Science
This concentration is for students interested in studying the environment through the physical sciences of geology, meteorology, oceanography, hydrology, and chemistry. The concentration provides students with a rigorous background in both quantitative and qualitative problem-solving techniques and aims to produce graduates who can understand our planet as an integrated system. Required courses provide basic knowledge in chemistry, physics, mathematics, statistics, and environmental regulation. Students choose an emphasis in chemical analysis, climate systems, coastal systems, hydrologic systems, or surficial processes (e.g., soils and watersheds), in consultation with an advisor.
Natural Resource Management and Conservation
This concentration provides students with the theoretical and applied knowledge and skills in ecology, conservation biology, and natural resources they need to address natural resource management and conservation issues. Required courses provide knowledge in ecology, conservation biology, statistics, and natural resource management and provide students with a solid background in both quantitative and qualitative problem-solving techniques. Students choose additional coursework in ecology, biodiversity studies, applied methods, and management of specific resources.
Concentrations leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree
Environmental Sustainability and Social Justice
This concentration provides students with a theoretical and applied understanding of the issues of sustainability and the connections between social justice and environmental problems and solutions. Students study the roles that values and social, political, and economic structures play in contributing to the environmental crisis. With the help of an advisor, students obtain depth by selecting elective courses from Political Science, American Indian Studies, Sociology, Philosophy and Religion, Economics, Urban Studies and Planning, Geography, Women’s Studies, and related fields.
Humanities and the Environment
This concentration explores the varied and complex ways that different cultures—past and present—view and communicate about the environment. With an advisor, students choose coursework in disciplines dealing with verbal or visual communication, such as Communication Studies, Technical and Creative writing, ethnic studies, Journalism, photography, Design, Electronic Media, and Cinema.
The Urban Environment
This concentration provides students with a strong interdisciplinary theoretical and empirical understanding for dealing with environmental issues in urban settings. With the help of an advisor, students obtain depth by selecting elective courses focusing on sustainable urban development, environmental justice, land-use planning, environmental policy, and the urban environment in a global perspective.
